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The squad for Sporting’s Champions League campaign has been announced. UEFA has yet to publish the “B” list, meaning some youth team players like Matheus Pereira and Gelson Martins don’t feature but that should follow shortly.

All of the new signings feature, the only missing name from the first team squad proper is goalkeeper Ažbe Jug.

Sporting’s win over Leixões was overshadowed after a terrible injury to Mauro Riquicho could keep the right-back out for the rest of the season.

João de Deus brought in Rúben Ribeiro for the player’s Sporting B debut, slotting in at left back.

Coming off a great win over Oriental last time out Sporting kept up their excellent play.

Indeed, it took just 2 minutes for Sporting to get the lead when Matheus Pereira’s freekick was headed in from close range by Sambinha.

An even better set piece came 7 minutes later when a clever passing move from Sporting found Domingos Duarte able to score from close range.

Diogo Nunes pulled one back for Leixões in a half with goals all scored by central defenders.

Not long after the restart João de Deus brought on Diogo Salomão for Rafael Barbosa. The winger showing excellent attitude to play for the B team despite being unable to find a new club over the summer.

The incident the game will be remembered for came in the 62nd minute when Alemão went in on a tackle on Riquicho. Immediately the players signalled to the physio to deal with the terrible injury that could end the defender’s season.

Sporting tried to seal the game and get a third but the balance in the game shifted after Sambinha saw a straight red card.

Leixões went in search for an equaliser which allowed Sporting to counter and just before the end Cristian Ponde made it 3-1 to secure all 3 points.

Sporting have sent their squad list to UEFA which includes some notable absentees. Both Miguel Lopes and Shikabala are absent from the least leading to speculations over their future, the latter is expect to return to for a 4th stint with Zamalek. There were though inclusions for Ryan Gauld, Ramy Rabia, Hadi Sacko and André Geraldes.

Four Sporting players have been called up to the Portugal U19 squad that will participate in the forthcoming UEFA European Under 19 Championships.

Domingos Duarte, João Palhinha, Gelson Martins and Mauro Riquicho have all been called up to the squad by Edgar Borges. Portugal will face Israel on July 19th, Hungary on 22nd July and finally Austria on the 25th July. From there on, hopefully, they will in the semi-final on the 28th July and the final on the 31st.

All three of the Portuguese daily sports papers are going with the story of AS Monaco looking to bring in Leonardo Jardim to replace Claudio Ranieri. The Italian has guided the cash-rich club from Ligue 2 to 2nd place in Ligue 1 but rumours are mounting that Monaco will instead be hiring Jardim. Record say that should they do so Sporting will be entitled to €3 or €5m in compensation depending on which article you read. RTP state that they think Jardim’s departure to Monaco will be announced within the next few hours.

Should the Jardim to Monaco deal go through it seems Sporting have their replacement ready made in Marco Silva. Silva guided Estoril to a very impressive 4th position this year but has refused to renew his contract with the club adding to the rumours.

Monaco aren’t the only club interesting in the services of Leonardo Jardim, the manager has also been linked with jobs at Tottenham Hotspur and PAOK.

Elsewhere, Fabián Rinaudo expects to continue playing in Italy. The Argentine midfielder has been on loan at Catania where the club have an option of buying the player for €5m. It seems to the club can’t afford the figure so another loan deal maybe likely.

Wilson Eduardo is wanted by… Angola. The forward was born in Portugal but is eligible to play for Angola despite playing for Portugal at U21 level.

Sticking with international news Iuri Medeiros and Rúben Semedo have been called up to Portugal’s U20 squad for the 2014 Toulon Tournament. They could face teammate Eric Dier who has been selected for England’s team.

Meanwhile there are 4 players called up for Portugal’s U19 team with Hélio Sousa naming Mauro Riquicho, João Palhinha, Gelson Martins and Domingos Duarte.

Sporting B drew 1-1 with Leixões in a high eventful game in Alcochete that had more emphasis on the referee than the football. Referee Hélder Malheiro brandished the red card no more than 7 times in the game.

The first came early on when Mauro Riquicho was sent off whilst giving away a penalty. Riquicho himself had just come back into the side after serving a suspension for his previous red card. Brazilian Talles scored the resulting penalty for Leixões.

It was a penalty in Sporting’s favour that gave the home side the equaliser before half-time. There was more controversy: Goalkeeper Chastre was sent off as well as a player on the Leixões bench, Moreira, meaning the forward could not be used a substitute for the game. Ricardo Pinto came on for Chastre but could do nothing to stop Esgaio, who is excellent from the penalty spot.

The red cards were even more plentiful in the second half. Firstly, Nuno Reis received a second yellow card leaving Sporting with 9 men on the pitch.

Then Hélder Malheiro turned his attentions to the visiting team. A player who has been heavily linked with Sporting recently, Anderson Esiti, received his second yellow card in the 80th minute making the times both down to 9 men.

In the 89th minute Cadinha was also sent off leaving Leixões with just 8 players left on the pitch and with Sporting little time to take any advantage. The visitors also had assistant coach João Esteves sent off from the bench as well.

Both team’s managers were dismayed and shocked by the refereeing and Leixões have requested an emergency meeting with the Conselho de Arbitragem of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (referee’s council of the Portuguese football association). Sporting have yet to comment on the match.

Sporting ended the game with 9 men as the lost out at home to Penafiel with Wallyson Mallmann and Mauro Riquicho both being sent off.

Another game for Sporting that resulted in a midfield battle and this was not helped by the heavy rain.

Penafiel took the lead after 32 minutes from the penalty spot after a Mauro Riquicho handball, with the right back picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Rafael Lopes stepped up to finish past Mickaël Meira.

Sporting were unfortunate not to get a penalty themselves soon afterwards when Iuri Medeiros was fouled in the area but no decision was given by referee Luís Ferreira.

Disaster struck just before half-time for Sporting when Wallyson Mallmann was given a straight red card for his foul in Hélder Ferreira.

Still after the break Sporting worked well even with 10 men and proved a threat to Penafiel as they went out to grab the equaliser.

Ricardo Esgaio and Nuno Reis had the best chances for Sporting B in the second-half but goalkeeper Coelho managed to prevent Sporting from scoring.

In the 76th minute the referee gave Mauro Riquicho his second yellow card effectively ending Sporting’s attempts to equalise. Sporting can consider themselves somewhat hard done by with refereeing decisions and were unfortunate not to get anything from the game.

Sporting B lost their second successive game in a row away to Benfica B and see themselves now in 8th place in the Segunda Liga.

Both teams played stronger teams than usual, as now is tradition for these “mini derbies”. Abel Ferreira starting with Marcelo Boeck and Eric Dier.

It was Sporting who had the better of the first half and deservedly grabbed a goal just before the break through Mauro Riquicho.

The second half was less intense than the first but the goals kept coming for Benfica B. They equalised just 7 minutes after the restart through Rogelio Funes Mori.

The game looked like it would end in a draw but two quick-fire Benfica goals gave them the win. The first, in the 78th minute, scored by Steven Vitória and then just two minutes later Rúben Pinto finished the game off.

The game ended dramatically when Iuri Medeiros was sent off for violent conduct after an awful tackle on Victor Lindelöf. Then, in the aftermath, Stefan Mitrović for Benfica B was also sent off – the match ending in a classic farcical derby scuffle.

Abel Ferreira’s team will look to bounce back on Monday as they host Braga B and look to try and climb back up the table.